Adjustable backing key



Feb. 25, v1964 1.. s. WARNER ADJUSTABLE BACKING KEY Filed Feb. 1, 1962 mr R u. j n a u C m A a @w W w m 1 0 @n M m c a H M %M m m e Z4 UnitedStates Patent 3,i22,%43 ADZUSTABLE BAQKENQ Lewis 5. Warner, 2367 FairwayDrive, Binningha'n, Mich. Filed Feb. 1, 15 62, Ser. No. 17 3, 111 1(Zlaim. {CL 35-1) This invention relates to an adjustable backing key.

Heretofore where it had been desired to secure parts of tools inpredetermined positions, and where due to the wear of the tool,incremental adjustments were required, the device employed for thatpurpose was a shim.

Furthermore, in the past a milled slot was often required in the baseor" t. e tool within which was inserted a stop block.

it is the object of the present invention to provide an adjustablebacking key which not only eliminates the use of shims but alsoeliminates the time consuming milling operation.

It is the further object of the present invention to provide anadjustable backing key which may be rotatively positioned within amachine tool.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a backing keyincluding an eccentrically located cam surface and a backing collarthereon, together with a wrench engaging portion whereby the cam elementmay be rotatively adjusted within the backing collar for adjusting saidcollar with respect to a tool or other member to be backed up andretained against displacement.

It is the further object of the present invention to employ inconjunction with said cam a backing collar or pressure plate whereby thethrust of the same is transmitted by the pressure plate to the tool.

It is the further object of the present invention to provide a novelstructure for locking the adjustable backing key and collar in anydesired position of rotated adjustment.

These and other objects will be seen from the following specificationand claim in conjunction with the up pended drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view illustrating one use for thepresent adjustable backing key.

Flu. 2 is a fragmentary plan view taken on line 2--2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the assembled backing key and collar asassembled in FIG. 1 and on an increased scale.

FIG. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective View of the backing collar.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the hacking key.

it will be understood that the above drawing illustrates merely apreferred embodiment of the invention, and that other embodiments arecontemplated within the scope of the claim hereafter set forth.

Referring to the drawing, the present adjustable backing key is shown asit would be used in FIG. 1 in connection with a punch, which includespunch holder 11 having mounted on its top surface die 12, which haselongated slots 13 and secured to said holder by the bolts 14 whichextend through said slots and threadedly engage said holder.

There is a complemental vertically movable die shoe 1'5 from whichdepends the punch 16 of the desired form and which is longitudinallyslotted at 17 to receive the punch securing bolts 13, which threadedlyengage said die shoe.

There is a conventional type of adjustable backing mechanism for holdingpunch 16 against relative longitudinal displacement. This deviceincludes the positioning within milled slot 19 of an elongated block 20,held therein in any suitable fashion.

"ice

The elongated stock blank is designated at W. During the course ofpunching operations or blanking operations employing the die and punch12 and 16, the registering edges thereof wear from time to time and mustbe refinished. This usually means that there must be a longitudinaladjustment of at least one of the elements towards the other to take upfor the change in dimension of the die on such refinishing. Heretofore,upon readjustment of the punch 16 for illustration, one or more shims 21were introduced between the end of the punch and retaining block 2i inorder to firmly retain said punch against relative long'tudinal movementwith respect to shoe 15.

In addition to the impractical use of shims, the initial milling or"slot 1? is a long and time consuming operation, which is eliminated bythe use of the present adjustable backing key, and wherein it is merelynecessary to bore the opening 32. within punch holder 11.

The present adjustable backing key and collar generally indicated at 22,FIGS. 1 and 4, cooperatively engage one end of die 12 for eliectinglongitudinal adjustments of die 12 and for securing said die in theadjusted position.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the adjustable backing key 22 of FIG. 1 isshown on an enlarged scale and includes cylindrical base 23, and uponone side thereof the cam 2 of substantially circular construction butwhich is eccentric to the longitudinal axis of base 23.

The cam element 24 terminates in the wrench-engaging nut 2.5, which inthe preferred embodiment is of hexagonal shape for illustration, andprovides a means for erlecting rotary adjustments of cam 24 and its base23, within bore 32.

Base 2-3, cam or eccentric body 24, and nut 25 are all formed in onepiece, and there is formed therethrough a longitudinal bore 26, whichterminates in counterbore 27 and enlarged threaded bore 28. Bore 27 isadapted to receive the enlarged head 2 of bolt 34} which extends downthrough bore 26 and in use is threaded down into threaded opening 33 inthe supporting member, such as punch holder 11. Bolt 36 effectivelysecures the backing key in any position of rotated adjustment.

As constructed the cam or eccentric body 24 is so formed that if usedalone to operatively engage the end face of die 12, it would be in thenature of a line contact. To improve upon this contact and to provide anextended surface contact between the cam and die 12, there is provided apressure plate in the form of a collar 34, which has an eccentnicallydisplaced circular bore 35 to receive the eccentric body 24 loosely, soas to provide a slip fit therebetween.

The exterior bearing surface 36, 37, 38, and 39 of collar 3 are fiat asshown in FIGS. 2 and 3 for operatively engaging the end face of die 12.With bolt loosened, on application of a wrench to its socket 40 byturning key 22 through nut 25, the cam body or eccentric 24 actingthrough collar 34 will transmit longitudinal pressure to the end face ofdie 12 for efiecting the desired longitudinal adjustment thereof towardspunch 16. When the key has been rotated sufiiciently so as to properlyin-feed die 12 to the correct position, bolt is tightened.

In use cylindrical body 23 is snugly yet rotatively journaled andsupported within bore 32 in member 11. As shown in FIG. 2, one of thefiat surfaces 36, 37, 38 and 39 operatively engages the end wall of die12 as at 41.

In use, there are normally employed more than one backing key, such asthe backing keys illustrated in PIG. 2.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, the sides 36, 37, 38 and 39 of collar 3 are arrangedas in a square, and its bore 35 is eccentric to its center. Here also,there is a variable radifl distance between the center of bore 35 andsaid fiat sides to provide a greater range of adjustment. For example,surface 36 is at a center distance of .69 inch with respect to thecenter of collar opening 35. Surface 35 is .75 inch; surface 33 is .81inch and surface 39 is at a set center distance of .87 inch.

The collar 34 thus provides for the maximum range of adjustment of thebacking key. There is thus provided the selective use of any of the toolengaging surfaces 36, 37, 38 and 39 to provide for external adjustmentsor for an external backing up operation. In addition thereto,

there is the'eccentricity of the cam body 24 with respect to the axis ofrotation of key body 23.

There is thus provided in the present key a maximum adjustment, forillustration, of .290 inch.

It is contemplated that the effectiveness of the key may be modified bymodifying the dimensions of the collar. The key has formed thereinoutwardly of cam element 24, an annular groove 42 which receives thelocking ring 43 for the purpose of retaining collar 34 on key 22limiting relative longitudinal adjustment thereof. At the same time thecollar is free to be rotatively adjusted as require-d.

Plug 44 with Allen Wrench aperture 45 is threaded down into bore 28 atthe outer end of key 22 to retainingly engage bolt 29-39 to preventloosening or accidental removal thereof.

Having described my invention, reference should now be had to thefollowing claim.

I claim:

For use with a horizontal support having a vertical axis tapped holeanda coaxial counterbore;

an assembly comprising a stop block collar, an adjustable key therefor;a headed key-retaining screw bolt; and a retaining ring;

the stop collar being of polygonal shape having a central hole and flatvertical stop sides, these sides being at varying distances from theaxis of the collar hole and serving as stops; the key comprising acylindrical base portion at its lower end, a central cylindrical cambody portion, and a nut portion at its upper end having flat verticalsides; all three portions being integral; the key having a centrallongitudinal bore having a vertical axis coincident with the axes of thesupport tapped hole and the support counterbore and the stop collar;

the base portion being of the approximate diameter of the supportcounterbore to fit snugly and be journalled therein;

the height of the base portion being no greater than the counterboredepth so that at no time can the upper end of the base portion be abovethe support;

the base portion being concentric with the key axis; the cam bodyportion being of the approximate diameter of the collar hole so as tofit snugly therein; the cam body portion being eccentric to the axis ofthe key; the cam body portion being smaller in diameter than the baseportion, providing an arcuate stop shoulder on the upper end of the baseportion at its juncture with the cam portion; 5

the nut portion being of lesser maximum diameter the the cam portion andformed with vertical flat sides to receive a wrench enabling the key tobe adjusted by being rotated on its axis While its base portion journalsthe key in the support counterbore, and While the collar hole receivesthe cam portion;

the key having a horizontal stop shoulder in the central bore for thebolt head;

such rotation of the key by a wrench applied to the nut portion actingto shift the collar laterally of the key axis on the support on W ichthe collar rests, due to the coaction of the eccentric cylindrical camportion of the key and the collar Whose hole fits snugly around the camportion;

the key retaining bolt having a head engaging the key stop shoulder tohold the key down in the support counterbore in adjusted position Withthe bolts thread shank adapted to be threaded into the support tappedhole;

a collar retaining ring on the key spaced above said rcuate stopshoulder a distance greater than the height of the collar for looselyretaining the collar assembled in its place around the cam portion andbetween the nut portion and the base portion of the y;

said retaining ring being so formed that it can be applied to the keyafter the collar is loosely assemled on the key by being slipped overthe nut portion end of the key and dropped along the key towards saidarcuate stop shoulder, which with the ring, retains the collar looselyin assembly with the key.

References tilted in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,039,900 Hargrave May 5, 1936 2,216,208 Michon Oct. 1, 1940 2,242,363Michon May 20, 1941 3,006,443 Siler Oct. 31, 1961

